Top five players from the group stage

The group stage of Women’s World Cup of 2023 has come to an end. After 48 games played, the competition enters its knockout phase. Switzerland, Norway, Australia, Nigeria, Japan, Spain, England, Denmark, Holland, United States, France, Jamaica, Sweden, South Africa, Colombia and Morocco are still in contention for the world title.

The round of 16 starts this Saturday, the 5th, at 2 am (Brasília time) with the match between Switzerland and Spain. As of now, missed back home. With the end of the first stage, however, it is already possible to understand the distribution of forces between the teams and point out, at least so far, the players who stood out the most and contributed to the success of their selections.

Check out five stars who helped their teams advance in the 2023 Women’s World Cup:

HINATA MIYAZAWA

With four goals in three matches, the attacking midfielder Hinata Miyazawa is one of the main names in the Japanese selection. At the age of 23, the player from Mynavi Sendai, a club from the country, is a highlight of Japanese football from the youth teams, having been one of the main names in the Japanese conquest of the U-20 World Cup in 2018. Zambia twice and against Spain twice.

LINDA CAICEDO

At age 18, Linda Caicedo is the main player of Colombia, sensation of the 2023 World Cup and the only South American team to advance. The great goal against Germany conquered the world and the Real Madrid striker’s swing and dribbling earned her the nickname “Queen of America”. With two goals in two games, she became the second youngest South American to score goals in more than one World Cup match, only surpassed by Marta.

LAUREN JAMES

Sister of Reece James, Lauren James he owes nothing to his brother. Quite the contrary, its performance by the England at the 2023 World Cup is a great argument for anyone who believes she is the best James in the family. With three goals in two games, the 21-year-old Chelsea striker is playing her first World Cup and is one of the references of the powerful “Leoas”, nickname of the English women’s team. Her brother is a winger and also plays for Chelsea.

CHIAMAKA NNADOZIE

The 2023 World Cup is being marked by the excellent performance of the goalkeepers. And in the entire tournament, perhaps no name exemplifies this as perfectly as the Nigerian Chiamaka Nnadozie. A hero in the matches against Canada and Australia, the 22-year-old Paris FC goalkeeper worked miracles to qualify the Africans for the round of 16.

AMANDA ILESTEDT

The three goals in three games can be deceiving, but the Swedish Amanda Ilestedt not a striker, but a defender. At the age of 30, the PSG athlete is sovereign in the air and has commanded the attack and defense of the European team. Forming a great defense duo with Magdalena Eriksson, Ilestedt has also proven that she is decisive: it was her goal in stoppage time that sealed the victory against South Africa.